ghormley



Feb. 7, 1956 s. GHORMLEY 2,733,733

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING ANTIFREEZE' VAPOR AND THE LIKE TO MOVING VOLUMES 0F COMPRESSED AIR Filed Jan. 19, 1953 JIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR KARL S. GHORMLEY ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING ANTIFREEZE VAPOR AND THE LIKE TO MOVING VOL- UMES OF COMPRESSED AIR Karl s. Ghormley, Canfield, Ohio Application January 19, 1953, Serial No. 332,048

2 Claims. c1. 138-34) freeze-up of the lines and/or machinery during cold weather.

In the operation of compressed air machinery and the like it is a common phenomena for expansion of the air, as during operation of the air-powered machinery, to be accompanied by a lowering of the temperature of the air and precipitation of much of the moisture carried thereby. During the colder seasons, therefore, operation of compressed air machinery under exposed conditions presents a substantial problem in that valves and other working parts of the air machinery tend to freeze as moisture carried by the air supply condenses at such parts and later solidifies.

In order to overcome this objectionable characteristic of air-operated machinery it has been heretofore proposed that the air supply line or lines for such machinery be provided with means for introducing into the air supply a suitable volatile anti-freeze solution, such as alcohol for example, which has a relatively high aflinity for moisture and which will combine therewith so that if and when any condensation or precipitation of the combined solution takes place the same will not solidify and interfere with the normal operation of the air machinery.

Prior arrangements to this end have, however, been characterized by substantial inefiiciencies in operation, either in that adequate and dependable anti-freeze protection was not afforded, or that excessive quantities of antifreeze solution were required, or in some instances both. Accordingly, it is the ultimate object of this invention to provide apparatus of the character and for the purpose mentioned above which is of a substantially improved nature as regards adequacy and dependability of antifreeze protection and consumption of anti-freeze solution,

and in other respects as .will be apparent.

More specifically, the present invention seeks to provide a novel antifreeze device for compressed air supply lines whereby the air supplymay be caused to pass adjacent a relatively quiescent body of alcohol or other volatile anti-freeze solution in such manner and under such conditions that adequate but not excessive quantities of the solution are absorbed by the air supply and subsequently carried therewith through the distribution lines and airoperated machinery to prevent freeze-up of moisture therein. In this respect the invention constitutes a departure from pertinent prior teachings wherein it has been deemed necessary or desirable to feed anti-freeze solution directly .into the air supply lines, or to pass the air supply through or adjacent to a body of anti-freeze solution maintained in a highly agitated condition.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of anti-freeze apparatus for compressed air supply lines having the above mentioned characteristics and advantages which may eflfectively utilize alcohol as an antinited States Patent ice freeze solution, rather than expensive special solutions as has been heretofore required in many instances.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an anti-freeze device for use in connection with air-operated machinery and distribution lines thereforwhich may be readily installed into an air system and which may be readily inspected, cleaned and maintained with a supply of anti-freeze solution. To this extent the apparatus of my present invention is ideally adapted for outdoor construction work wherein it is contemplated that the construction equipment will be frequently dismantled and reassembled as construction progresses or as operations are moved from one site to another.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of anti-freeze apparatus having all the characteristics and advantages set forth above which is in addition readily and inexpensively constructed out of stock parts and components, and which is of a simple and rugged nature and therefore ideally suited for the use contemplated.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed specification and accompanying drawing wherein is disclosed a certain preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention, illustrating the same as installed in a conventional compressed air supply line; and

Figure 2' is atransverse section view taken along line HIl of Figure 1.

Referring initially to Figure l, the numeral 10 designates a conventional air compressor device having an outlet supply line 11 leading to a suitable distribution fitting 12 and thence to one or more compressed air operated devices such as a chipping hammer 13, for example.

In accordance with usual practice the supply line 11 may be provided at a point adjacent the compressor 10 with suitable means, not shown, for filtering or otherwise extracting moisture from the compressed air supply. Also in accordance with usual practice a reservoir tank, not shown, may be provided in the supply line 11, adjacent the compressor 10. And the above mentioned moisture extracting means may be used in connection with such reservoir since air retained in the reservoir is generally cooled considerably from the temperature at which it leaves the compressor 10, and such cooling is often accompanied by condensation of much of the moisture carried by the air as will be understood.

Even where moisture extracting means are so provided, however, considerable quantities of moisture are retained by the air. Therefore anti-freeze apparatus of the type contemplated by this invention is additionally required Where the supply lines and air-operated apparatus is used under exposed conditions.

Thus, in accordance with the teachings of the invention I provide a relatively large vertically disposed tank 14 constructed of, for example, a length of large diameter pipe 15, having upper and lower end plates 16 and 17 welded thereto, which is adapted to retain a substantial supply of alcohol or other anti-freeze solution at a filled level of, for example, a half tank-full as shown. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the tank 14 is supported in vertical disposition and in spaced relation to the ground or other supporting surface 19 by means of a plurality of legs 18 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the side walls of the pipe 15 as will be apparent.

Secured to the side walls of the pipe 15, near the upper end thereof, and in diametrically opposed relation, is a pair of conventional internally threaded pipe couplings 20 and 21 which are adapted to be engaged at their outwardly extending end portions by conduit sections 22 and 23, respectively, forming a part of the supply line 11. The arrangement is such that compressed air flowing through the supply line 11 is discharged into the interior of the tank 14 from the conduit section 22 and is discharged from the tank through the conduit section 23, the air being eventually utilized and discharged by the air-operated device 13;

Threadedly engaging each of the coupling members 2%) and 21 interiorly of the tank 14 are conventional street L fittings 2 and 25 which open downwardly toward the bottom of the tank in direct communication with the interior thereof whereby the flow of air into the tank will be directed downwardly while the outward flow of air will be upward into the fitting 25 and thence outward through coupling .21 and conduit section 23. The outlet openings of the street L fittings 24 and 25, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, are relatively closely spaced,

as illustrated. However, such construction is not necessary or critical to the proper operation of the apparatus.

Secured to the interior walls .of the tank 14 and positioned intermediate the outlet openings of fittings 24' and 25 and the maximum liquid level of the anti-freeze solution is a transversely disposed baffle plate 26, having a plurality of vertical apertures 27 therein. The baffle plate 26 provides an impeded communication between the lower portion of the tank; containing anti-freeze solution, and the upper portion, having a relatively large air space and openings communicating directly therewith from street L fittings 24 and 25. The arrangement, in accordance with the teachings of the invention, is such that quantities of air flowing into and out of the tank 14 are substantially reduced in velocity upon discharge through the fitting 24 and are caused to circulate about the air space at the upper end of the tank before subsequently passing out of the tank through fitting 25. The volume of air at the upper end of the tank is at all times in communication with the quiescent body of anti-freeze solution contained below the bafiie plate 26 so that the solution, preferably alcohol, is evaporated and absorbed by the air at a predetermined rate.

Gentle circulation of the air in the upper portion of the V tank 14 is, of course, induced by the flow of air into and the anti-freeze solution will at all times be in proportion to the rate of air flow through the supply system. Thus, a uniform and adequate quantity of anti-freeze solution is dispersed into the compressed air supply substantially without regard to the rate of flow of air or changes in rates of fiow as may be caused by intermittent operation of certain equipment.

To replenish the supply of anti-freeze solution in the tank 14, when necessary, I have provided an inlet fitting 28 which is secured on the upper end plate 16 of the tank, and which is provided with a suitable valve 29 which, when opened, permits solution to be poured directly into the tank. Df course, the tank 14 must be isolated from the supply line 11 during filling, and for this purpose I have provided valves 30 and 31 in the supply line 11 at g each side of the tank 14'. These valves will, of course,

e closed during filling of the tank with solution.

Continual evaporation of solution from the tank 14 will usually cause certain quantities of residue and foreign matter to collect at the bottom of the tank which should be periodically removed therefrom to insure the continued proper operation of the apparatus. Accordingly, I provide a discharge outlet passage 32, having a valve 33 therein, at the bottom of the tank 14 so that when necessary or desirable residue may be purged from the tank by merely opening the valve 33.

4 V The advantages of my invention should now be apparent. The apparatus provides anti-freeze protection for compressed air systems which is of absolute reliability and dependability while at the same time being unusually economical in operation. Thus, in practice, the apparatus herein disclosed has provided anti-freeze protection for a compressed air system utilizing an average of six hundred cubic feet of air per minutte at pressures in the order of p. s. i. while utilizing an average of approximately one gallon per week of anti-freeze solution.

On the other hand, apparatus of types heretofore known, operating under the same or equivalent conditions, usually require several-as many as seven, for examplegallons of solution per day. Thus, the economies afforded by my apparatus are of a high magnitude as will be readily apparent.

The great economies which are atforded'by my apparatus are realized, in part, from the fact that it is virtually impossible for quantities of raw alcohol to be carried along in the air stream. And while certain types of apparatus heretofore known may prevent or substantially prevent the passage of raw solution along with the air stream, the same has been accomplished at a sacrifice to, or at least without realizing the many other advantages of my apparatus.

My disclosures provide for a gentle circulation of a body of air over a quiescent body of volatile anti-freeze solution whereby adequate but not excessive quantities of solution are absorbed by the air and intermixed with fresh air entering the tank. And the rate of circulation, and consequently the rate of absorption of the solution and the rate of intermixture thereof with the fresh air is at all times in proportion to the then existing rate of flow of air. As a result complete antifreeze protection .is provided under all conditions of operation, and not a single instance of freeze-up of equipment has been known to occur where my apparatus has been utilized. On the other hand occasional freeze-up of equipment is not unusual where anti-freeze protection is provided by apparatus of types heretofore known notwithstanding the excessively large quantities of anti-freeze solution used thereby. This may be readily explained by the fact that in such prior apparatus, while the overall quantity solution utilized was more than adequate, the same was not uniformly dispersed into the flowing air supply, with the result that certain portions of supply carried solution in quantities greatly in excess of those required, while other portions of the supply were supplied with inadequate quantities of solution.

In addition to the many advantages of my apparatus in regard to its operation, the same is further advantageous from the standpoint of simplicity and ease and economy of construction. In the above mentioned example air system, wherein compressed air at 100 p. s. i. is con sumed at an average rate of six hundred cubic feet per minute, I found that an adequate tank could be constructed from a length of standard ten inch pipe, standard metal plate being utilized to provide a top and bottom-and a baffle plate, and standard valves and fittings being utilized for the other required components. Thus it will be apparent that my apparatus may be readily fabricated and installed, and maintenance and repair, if ever required, is of a most simple nature.

It should be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and specifically described is intended to be illustrative only, and reference should be had to the appended claims in determining the true scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing anti-freeze vapors and the like to moving volumes of compressed air wherein the vapor is derived from volatilization of a liquid comprising a vertically disposed closed tank adapted to receive a supply of said liquid in the lower portion thereof and having a transversely disposed bafile therein disposed above the normal level of the liquid in said tank and having a multiplicity of transversely spaced openings therethrough to provide an upper chamber in said tank generally separatedfrom the lower chamber in the tank containing liquid While yet providing for the transference of the vapor arising from said liquid into said upper chamber, and conduit means for directing the flow of said compressed air transversely through said upper chamber and in contact With the upper surface of said baffie, the arrangement being such that the air in said lower chamber above said liquid remains relatively quiescent and substantially independent of the rate and volume of compressed air flow throughsaid upper chamber to thereby control the rate of evaporation of said liquid.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further character- 15 6 ized in that said conduit means comprises an inlet opening facing the top surface of said bafiie to discharge incoming air onto said baffle and further comprising an outlet opening also facing said baflle but at a point spaced transversely from said inlet opening to receive and discharge air reflected from said bafile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,408 Kearns Mar. 9, 1886 2,613,067 Goodyer Oct. 7, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 568,082 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1945 

